Internal-combustion engine



A. 1.. rPOWELL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb.

Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES y 1,560,492 PATENT oFFlc'E.

ALVAH L. POWELL, OF MILES CITY, MONTANA, ASSIGNOB TO THE A. L. POWELL POWER CO., INC., 0F MILES CITY, MONTANA A'BODY CORPORATE.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed February To all lwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that ALvAH L. POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miles City, in the county of Custer and State of Montana, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines in which I provide a fluid means for varying the effect of piston pressure with referenceto load. In this way I obtain advantages in the operation of an .engine when running at high load, speed automatically adjusting itself to the increased load by a leverage effect that reacts on a secondary piston, causing the crank pressure to rise for a part of the stroke. In the annexed drawings, I show an application of my invention, in which {.Figs. l and -2 are vertical elevations, in

section, showing the operation of engine at extremes of stroke. Fig. 3 is a detail.

In Fig., l a cylinder A has a major and minor bore in which are fitted pistons, A1, A2. Piston A1 has a minor diameter, A3, that is slidablc in a bored passage in piston A2. On the end of A3 there is fitted a cup leather, A1. Piston A2 is bored to allow A3 to fit in it, and counterbored to allow a third piston, A5, to be slidably fitted therein. Between the end of A3 and the head of piston A5 a fluid is introduced, as indicated in Figs. l and 2. From piston A5 a piston rod A6 extends to a connecting rod, A3, which is attached to a crank, A3. At A2 I provide breathing holes to care for the effect of the difference in movement between pistons A and A2.

On power outstroke the minor piston A3 is forced forward' against the fluid in the hollow piston A2. Itis evident that the pressure exerted against the second piston, A5, will be governed by the relative areas of pistons A1, A3. Let it be assumed that A1 has an area four times that of A3, and piston A5 an area equal to that of A1. If the total pressure on A1 equals 1,00() pounds, the pressure on A3 will be the same but, by reason of the difference in areas, the pressure per square inch on A3 will be greater than it is on A1, This greaterpressure will be transmitted to the piston A5, by Pascals law, and A5 will move with a total pressure four times greater than that Serial No. 441,976.

ments of A1 and A5 as related to movement of A3.

Vith engine running free, that is, without load, the effect of the improvement I have described will be small, for the relative incompressibility of fiuid will cause the pistons to operate together, substantially as one piecegbut as'load increases the plston A5 will receive a pressure from the crank and this will react against the fluid, increasing the pressure against pistons A3 and A1. This will be opposed by the 'power pressure on A1; that is, 'the pressure due to heat of combustion, and as crank As tends to lag the increased pressure between A3 and A5 will force A5 outward, in the effort to balance the crank pressure. For a part of the outstroke of A1 its ressure on crank pin B will be increased our times. This will be a leverage effect that, although operative for only a part of stroke, will, under conditions of heavy load, give such an engine a reserve force and consequent flexibility, not present in the usual direct coupled engines.

In Fi 2 the related parts are shown at end o stroke. From this it is clear that piston A1 will be forced back (direction of arrow) before the retaining piston A5 moves.

In a multiple cylinder engine, the effect of this increase of leverage under load will be more marked, for the positive pressures will be distributed to various points of the crank circle, increasing the general efliciency and flexibility of the engine accordingly.

It is evident that an engine operable by any pressure means can be equipped with my improvement, and that the working efect wlll be the same as herein described.

In Fig. 3 I show a means'for maintaining a supply of fluid in piston A2. On suction stroke of A1 it ceases moving for an instant at end of its own stroke but A5 goes on, from the crank action on engine shaft. A suction effect is produced above A5, and fluid is drawn into the space above it. This fluid enters through a flexible pipe, B, that is attached to A2, connecting with a pipe B2. On the latter pipe there is a needle valve, B3, that controls the flow to the flexible pipe.

Many forms of the improvement I have said intermediate piston, a secondary pis\ ton slidable in the major bore of said intermediate piston, uid means between said secondary piston and the minor diameter of said first mentioned piston, a power shat, connecting means between said power shaft and said secondary piston whereby said power shaft is actuated by the pressure of the said fluid means.

2. In an internal combustion engine, ya power means,lan intermediate fiuid means, a transmission means, and means whereby the pressure between said power means and said transmission varies with the engine load, substantially as described.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a power pistonslidable therein having major and minor diameters, an intermediate piston having major and minor diameters and bores, means whereby the minor diameter of the power piston is slidable in said intermediate piston, a cup leather on the power piston of minor diameter, a piston, means whereby said'piston is slidable in the major bore of intermediate piston, fluid means between the power piston of minor diameter and piston slidable in major diameter of intermediate piston, a piston rod, connecting means between said piston rod andthe piston slidable in major diameter of 'intermediate piston, a crank, a power shaft, a crank rod, means for connecting said crank and said piston slidable in major diameter of intermediate piston,

and means for maintaining the volume of said fluid, substantially as described.`

4. In` an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a` slidable piston having major and minor diameters, an intermediate slidable piston having major and minor bores, means wherebyy the minor diameter of the power piston is slidable in the minor bore of the intermediate piston, a power transmission piston, means for moving said piston in the major bore of the intermediate piston, a fluid means between the minor diameter power piston and the power transmission 

